Safety for firearms



Dec. 25, 1956 e. GEHMAN SAFETY FOR FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.Gear 6' (he/email MM 0m ATTOEMEYI K v u I v I a Filed Oct. 23, 1953 Dec.25, 1956 G. GEHMAN SAFETY FOR FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23,1953 INVENTOR. lye Gehman,

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United States Patent SAFETY FOR FIREARMS George Gehman, Oxford, N. J.Application October 23, 1953, Serial No. 387,914

2 Claims. (CI. 42-70) This invention relates to improved safety locks orcatches for firearms, and the primary object of the invention is toprovide safer, more reliable, and more conveniently operable devices ofthis kind.

Another important object of the invention is to provide devices of thecharacter indicated above which are automatic to the extent that theyreturn automatically to locked position from released position wheneverthe hand of the operator is removed therefrom.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a deviceof the character indicated above which is releasable by the hand of thegunner only with the hand in trigger-operating position on a gun orrifle, the device being protectively located with respect to the triggerguard and stock of a gun or rifle so that accidental contacts of objectswith the device which might otherwise release the device, are renderedunlikely, and if they do occur, the device returns automatically tolocked position upon withdrawal of such contacts.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration rather than limitation,a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary right hand side elevation of a double barrelshotgun, partly broken away to show safety means in accordance with thepresent invention in set or locked position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the safety means inreleased or unlocked position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing in phantom lines a handreleasing the safety means and operating a trigger; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 44 ofFigure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 generallydesignates a conventional form of shotgun having a stock 6 in whoseforward end is secured the mechanism housing 7, carrying the barrel orbarrels 8.

The housing includes side walls 9, 9, a top wall 10, and a bottom wall11, the bottom wall 11 being provided with opening means 12 throughwhich a trigger or triggers 13 depend, the trigger 13 being pivoted on apin 14 extending across the opening means 12. A trigger guard 15 issecured to the underside of the housing 7 and encloses the trigger 13. Asafety button 16 is slidably mounted on the housing top wall and has aspring arm 17 terminating at its forward end in a depending leg 18 whichis engaged in a notch 19 in the upper end of a vertical latch lever 20.The latch lever 20 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 21extending across the housing 7, and has a squared notch 22 in its lowerend, in which is engageable a latch lug or finger 23 on the upper end ofa trigger 13, in the locking position of the latch lever 20, as shown inFigure r 2,775,051 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 1. The safety button 16 maybe'operated as usual, if desired.

In accordance with the present invention, a manual releasing lever 24 ispivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 25 extending across thehousing 7 at the rear end of the trigger guard 15. The lever 24 includesa rearwardly extending arm 26 which extends along the underside of thehousing 7 and stock 6 behind the trigger guard 15, andan upright arm 27which reaches upwardly into the housing 7 through the opening means 12.

A horizontal bolt 28 has a clevis 29 on its rear end which receives theupper end of the lever arm 27 and is pivoted thereto by a pin 30. Theforward end of the bolt 28 has therein a closed slot 31 through whichloosely extends the upper end of the latch lever 20. A pivot pin 32secures the upper end of the latch lever 20 in the slot 31. A helicalspring 33 is mounted on and is compressed between the forward end of thebolt 28 and the forward end 33 of the housing 7.

As shown in Figure 3 with the hand 34 on the grip 35 of the stock 6, thetrigger finger 36 engaged with the trigger 13, and the remaining fingers37 behind the trigger guard 15 in the usual way, the fingers 37 willnaturally be beneath the arm 26 of the releasing lever 24, upwardpressure by the fingers 37 will swing the lever arm 26 upwardly.

This upward movement of the release lever arm 26 pushes the bolt 23forwardly, against the resistance of the spring 33, and thereby tiltsthe upper end of the latch lever 20 forwardly and its lower endrearwardly. This elevates the lower end of the latch lever 20 from theupper end 38 of the trigger 13 behind the shoulder 39 thereon, andthereby frees the trigger 13 to be pulled to fire the gun 5.

As soon as the fingers 37 are relaxed, the spring 33 returns the partsto the safety locked position shown in Figure 1.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a trigger mechanism including a housing having afront wall, side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall provided withopening means, a trigger positioned in a forward part of said openingmeans and pivoted on the housing to move forwardly and rearwardlyrelative thereto, a vertical latch lever within said housing and havingupper and lower ends, said latch lever being pivoted intermediate itsends on the housing above said trigger to swing forwardly and rearwardlyrelative thereto, the lower end of the latch lever having a portionnormally engaging an upper portion of the trigger and preventing firingoperation of the trigger, a horizontal bolt having a forward end and arear end, the forward end of the bolt having a closed slot through whichloosely extends the upper end of the latch lever, spring means actingbetween the forward end of said bolt and the front wall of the housingand normally urging said bolt in a rearward direction so as to maintainsaid lower end of said latch lever in blocking engagement with the saidupper portion of the trigger, and a releasing lever pivoted intermediateits ends on said housing beneath the rear end of the bolt, saidreleasing lever having a horizontal arm underlying the housing at apoint rearwardly of the trigger and a vertical arm rising through saidopening means and pivoted to the rear end of said bolt.

2. In combination, a trigger mechanism including a housing having afront wall, side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall provided withopening means, a trigger positioned in a forward part of said openingmeans and pivoted on the housing to move forwardly and rearwardlyrelative thereto, a vertical latch lever within said housing and havingupper and lower ends, said latch lever being pivoted intermediate itsends on the housing above said trigger to swing forwardly andrearwardlyrelative thereto, the lower endvof the latch lever having a portionnormally engaging an upper portion of the trigger and preventing firingoperation of the trigger, a horizontal b'olthaving a forward end andnarear end, the forward 5 end of the bolt being loosely connected to theupper. end of the latch lever, spring meansfacting between said bolt andthe front wall ofthe housing and normally urging said bolt in a rearwarddirection so as to maintain said lower end of saidlatch lever inblocking' engagement 10 bolt, a safety mounted on the top wall of thehousing for forward and rearward movement relative to the housing, saidsafety comprising a spring arm having a forward end terminating in adepending leg, the upper end of the latch lever having a notch in whichsaid leg is I engaged in a rearward position of the latch lever with thesafety in its rearward position.

References Cited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,335,669 Hanson Nov. 30, 1943 2,484,928 Boone Oct. 18, 1949 2,635,380Baker et'al; Apr. 21,- 1953 15 2,679,706 Windle- June 1, 1954

